Friday, 24 October 2008

Etsy find: Fox and flowers by Magicjelly

Karena or Magicjelly is a talented illustrator from Adelaide, South Australia who makes wonderfully retro inspired prints and collages that are definitely worth checking out.
I have my eye on Fox and Flowers. I really love how it seems simple from a distance but as you get closer all the little patterns and details become apparent. The colouring would be perfect for my place too.
Go see Magicjelly at Etsy, on the Australian site Madeit or find out what she is doing on her blog.

Labels: art, Australia, brown, Etsy, fox, illustration, Magicjelly, orange, print, screen printing

posted by topia7  # 12:02 PM 1 Comments

Saturday, 2 August 2008

Bear bones and hair cubes: Sean Morris can draw

The illustrated work of local artist, Sean Morris always makes me smile. His clean lines and the funny little plump characters peer through hair, leaves and bark in a strange mix of horror and delight.
On the 8th August Sean is having a solo show in Perth. Click the invite (left) for details.
If you are not lucky enough to make it, check out his blog or website.

Thanks so much to Apartment Therapy for including my photo Progressive Dry Cleaners in their Hot House photo exhibition!

Labels: art, brown, illustration, perth, pink, Sean Morris, wood

posted by topia7  # 11:07 AM 0 Comments

Friday, 4 July 2008

A symphony of visual perfection

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, WASO, have commissioned some really wonderful artwork for their most recent series of classic performances. Among them are two of my favourites, Manfred & Mozart on the left and of course, Beethoven's 5th on the right.
I really appreciate the bold use of limited colour and striking central images used in these posters. They are reminiscent of posters for music from the past and become quite timeless looking as a result.
I have been trying to search online for where I might be able to purchase them as posters but haven't been able to come up with anything useful. If anyone knows of anything, please let me know.

Labels: art, birds, blue, illustration, music, perth, poster, red, retro, WASO

posted by topia7  # 10:40 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Retro futurism with Eric Tan and Wall.E

I think it's awesome the way that Pixar use familiar retro design to promote there very 21st century films. I especially appreciate the simple lines and curves, limited colour pallet and use of darker shades for perspective. I would love either of these posters for my wall!
On the website i09, Eric Tan, one of Pixar's illustrators, is interviewed about his design process and inspiration for the film Wall.E, as well as a comparison to some of the original posters.
Eric Tan says:

I think retro advertising might work because they're based in something we're all used to seeing. There's a comfort in that. There was a defining look to past decades that immediately brings you back to those days. If our job as artists/communicators is to evoke a feeling and/or emotion out of a piece, it's a good way to instantly bring the viewer that feeling of nostalgia.

Check out the whole interview, well worth a read!
Also, see Eric Tan's personal blog for more of his inspiring work.

Labels: art, Eric Tan, illustration, Pixar, retro

posted by topia7  # 12:22 AM 1 Comments

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Ed! cover illustation: Jacobsen chair in the library

In the Tuesday edition of Ed!, The West Australian Newspaper's education liftout, my cover illustration was published.
I had a lot of fun researching the Jacobsen egg chair. I would love to get a small one like this for my little nephews to snuggle into while they read.
If you're a West Australian and have Tuesday's edition of the paper floating around, check it out.

Labels: books, boy, chair, child, Ed, illustration, library, Scott Cain, The West Australian Newspaper

posted by topia7  # 9:52 PM 1 Comments

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Etsy find: Bridget Farmer's fancy birds

I stumbled on these wonderful gocco printed 'fancy birds' while checking out new prints on Etsy. This print has been made by Bridget Farmer, an Irish born Melbourne artist who loves birds.
I really like the decorative line work in this curious duo, also the way they interact with each other with their different positions.
Great stuff Bridget, thanks for making your work available to the world!
Check out her work on Etsy where she calls herself bridbird.

Labels: art, birds, Bridget Farmer, Etsy, illustration, print, screen printing

posted by topia7  # 12:53 AM 1 Comments

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

Flickr find: Trippy kids book illustrations from the 60's, 70's

The flickr photo pool called Eye Candy - trippy hippy kid's books from the 60's and 70's is definitely worth checking out. Some of the images submitted would seriously make you wonder if it were for kids or for spaced out 60's teenagers, ger-roovy!
This example is probably one of the less strange but I love the overprint look, strong limited use of colour and you just know that it would feel a bit scratchy and smell like an old library.
At first it made me think about the cold war and Russia v USA at this period and perhaps this happy little penguin was a slim disguise for some pro-communist propaganda, but on closer inspection (and to show my naivety) it's Greek writing, not Russian, so perhaps even Greek penguins think about reaching the moon one day?
It would certainly be a welcome addition on my bookshelf!
Check out the Eye Candy.

Labels: art, books, flickr, illustration, penguin, space

posted by topia7  # 6:55 PM 1 Comments

Friday, 30 May 2008

Etsy find: Wondercabinet's fantasy specimen

In Wondercabinet's specimen series she manages to put together familiar botanical style images in new ways that always take a second glance to realise where they have come from. The prints blend beautifully and create something entirely new mixing fur, flower and shell. What adds to the authenticity and individuality is that Wondercabinet prints them on torn out pages from books, and the colour print interacts with the images and words on the book page beneath.
Truly magical.
Check out her Etsy page.

Labels: art, Etsy, illustration, nature, print, retro, screen printing, Wondercabinet

posted by topia7  # 10:55 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Re Jin Lee's adds art to the kitchen

Artist Re Jin Lee does some lovely pen and ink work featuring flowing lines and heavy areas of black and white, mainly inspired by nature.
She has taken her artwork a step further from just pen on paper though, and produced a series of cups, mugs, saucers and bowls with her simple line work cleverly integrated into the object.
I would love to wake up on a Sunday morning and sit with the winter sun streaming in my window as I sip my morning coffee contemplating a lazy, relaxing day from one of these wonderful creations.
Check out Re Jin Lee's website for more of her artwork or her Etsy page for products available for purchase.

Labels: art, birds, decor, Etsy, illustration, kitchen, print, Re Jin Lee

posted by topia7  # 1:04 AM 0 Comments

Friday, 23 May 2008

Knitted art of Nina Braun

I stumbled across the work of Nina Braun and it really captivated me. I love the scenic quality of this work, In the countryside, but it also looks like you could rub your face on it. There are not a lot of paintings you feel like you want to do that to... She really pushes illustration into a new direction using this medium. She inspires me to learn to knit!
Check out more of her work at Nina Braun's website of if you are lucky enough to live in Hamburg, go check out her exhibition, Stick and move.

Labels: art, craft, illustration, sculpture

posted by topia7  # 11:02 AM 0 Comments

Friday, 16 May 2008

WonderThunder Cusion and MP3 Pocket

After discovering and writing about WonderThunder's Clouds and Ghosts Pillow Cover I had to get one. I also bought this quirky little Thumbprint Face Ipod Pocket, which I really love. The thumbprint texture is really great and kinda' makes me think of exposed brains as much as hair, there is also quite subtle lines radiating from behind which can't be seen mush here, but it's really nice detail.
Thanks WonderThunder!

Labels: decor, Etsy, illustration, interior, ipod, print, screen printing, wonderthunder

posted by topia7  # 1:40 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Threadless pick: Sasquatch In Disguise

Of this weeks new release t-shirts on Threadless, the t-shirt I could defiantly wear would be Sasquatch In Disguise.
I prefer the artier, more illustrative t-shirts on Threadless, as opposed to the silly or funny ones, and this is a great example.
Check out more of the work of Sean Langedijk on his website: Hands for Eyes.

Labels: illustration, screen printing, threadless

posted by topia7  # 1:31 PM 0 Comments

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Cathrineholm enamel bowls with citrus

I have just picked up my latest ebay purchase, the small orange enamel Cathrineholm bowl filled with limes.
I am really pleased with the way it works with the other items on my dinning table which include a print of a photo I took in Hanoi, Vietnam, a screen printed illustration that I bought on Etsy by The Little Friends of Print Making, a place mat made from recycled, weaved telephone book paper from the Philippines, that my sister bought me in Adelaide and a table runner that I bought from the lady who made it in a tiny village in Laos.
The new orange bowl was definitely not a bargain. I ended up paying $63 for it (inc postage) which I guess seems kind of reasonable but compared to the green one, is extortionate. The green bowl I picked up at a thrift store for only $5! I am glad to have the orange one though, I do prefer collections of items rather than one off pieces.

Labels: cathrineholm, decor, Etsy, illustration, Laos, screen printing, The Little Friends of Print Making, Vietnam

posted by topia7  # 11:24 AM 0 Comments

Josh Cochran's Forecast.

Behind my desk at work I have a print of Josh Cochran's Forecast.
The use of colour, different scales and use of negative space really draw me in to this image and when I am day dreaming I get lost in the details of the image.
Check out more of the illustrations of Josh Cochran.

Labels: illustration, Josh Cochran, print

posted by topia7  # 1:30 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Etsy find: Clouds and Ghosts Pillow Cover

This cushion from Etsy is great. What a whimsical addition to a room. Hand screen printed with an original illustration by wonderthunder, a clever way to combine illustration and decore. Check it out.

I would really love it if some of my other fav illustrators that work with screen prints would diversify into doing a range of cushions. I want to see what The Little Friends of Printmaking, strawberryluna and even wondercabinet might come up with. Fingers crossed!

Labels: decor, Etsy, illustration, screen printing, wonderthunder

posted by topia7  # 12:56 AM 0 Comments